Shortly after the release of the fifth instalment of her ‘Ikoyenia’ series of books titled “Christmas With my Family” we took the opportunity to sit down with Greek Australian journalist and author Stephanie Timotheou to discuss all about her recent work and why reading is a great way for kids to learn more about the Greek language and culture.
–Stephanie, what can you tell us about your fifth book of the Ikoyenia series, that recently hit the book stores – without spoiling the plot?
Christmas With My Family is a beautiful rhyming story about the true meaning behind Christmas. It blends a little bit of religion with loads of fun and festivity. But the heart and soul of it is about spending time with family on Christmas Day and appreciating what we already have.
– What gives you inspiration to keep writing?
My kids! I started the series when I was a mum of one and now that we’ve welcomed our second little bundle of joy, it makes me even more excited to extend the Ikoyenia series. I love being able to give them something they can cherish forever and hopefully I can, in turn, inspire them to do whatever their hearts desire – just as I did.
-How did the pandemic impact your writing and what advice would you give to other aspiring writers?
My best advice would be: just keep writing! Even if you think what you’re writing is terrible.
During the pandemic I had huge moments of doubt and writer’s block. It was hard to keep a momentum going when there were so many other things on my mind. But I was persistent and continued writing – even at 3am after an idea would come to me in my sleep.
-When you’re not writing, what do you like to read?
Sadly, I haven’t read anything other than children’s books in about three years! Our favourites at the moment are The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland and various Little People Big Dreams books.
– If you had 15 words to persuade someone that the Ikoyenia series should be their childrens’ next read, what would you say?
Bond with your child through story time while also learning Greek – it’s a win-win situation!
*Christmas With My Family is a special edition book and limited copies are now available at www.ikoyenia.com.au
By Maria Dalamaras, Creative Director of Rio Consulting Group
We don’t know about you, but our office Christmas tree was up early this year. We are super excited about Christmas and we know you are too!
‘Christmas’ is trending on Social Media platforms. It’s clear we’re all looking forward to Christmas, with mentions significantly higher. To no surprise, with a disastrous year due to the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all looking forward to the Christmas sparkle.
This holiday season we expect online shopping to hit record levels. With many events and celebrations spent in lockdown, now is the time to gift and be merry!
So here we are with a handy survival guide to help you with your holiday marketing.
Use Email Marketing: Free, easy to control and guaranteed to reach your audience. New to email marketing, check out our favourite Email Marketing platforms: MailChimp and Klaviyo.
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram- time to get creative!
Stories: a great way to give consumers a real life experience by sharing information and being collaborative through quizzes and polls
Messenger bots: a chat that can help your customers with any questions
Posts: a visual and immersive way for consumers to discover your products and services
Shop links: link your online shop to your platforms
Google: Your customer is window shopping online, are you visible online?
Website: With many customers shopping online it’s important your website is in it’s best form
Gift Vouchers: The ideal gift for all ages! Simplify your gift vouchers by having an option to buy and receive them online.
Holiday trading hours: Use all your social platforms to help share these important dates and times.
Paid advertising: Social media platforms are a great way to shine during the holiday season! A lot of your other Christmas marketing ideas may include some aspect of social media, and one way to make sure those initiatives are seen is to pay for social media ads. The first step to running social media ads is to determine which platform to use. Instagram and Facebook are both excellent options for retailers.
Add Christmas flair to your brand: Temporarily update logo, and social media platforms to get into the holiday spirit
Create a ‘Countdown to Christmas’: An ideal Christmas marketing campaign engages your audience and keeps your business top of mind. Counting down to Christmas while sharing promotions is helps engagement
Build customer loyalty: Local businesses are known for their ability to build real relationships with their customers. Thank your customers for their support!
Getting into the Christmas spirit offers new marketing opportunities. Many of these holiday marketing tips can be profitable all year-round, but giving them a holiday spin taps into the unique market trends happening this time of year.
*Maria is a Marketing and Business professional at Rio Consulting Group, connecting local businesses with their customers.
From Greek dancing by the Canberra Hellenic Dancers to Greek music by Kefi band, the Greek culture and heritage was on full display at the National Museum of Australia on Thursday night.
Over 100 VIPs were in attendance at the National Museum to catch a glimpse of the new Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes exhibition which has just opened to the public and will run until May 1, 2022.
People mingling outside the exhibition. All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.Officials inside the exhibition.
Among these special guests were people such as the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Papacostas; the ACT Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja; the ACT Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tara Cheyne; His Grace Bishop Bartholomew; the President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC), John Loukadellis; and the President of the Hellenic Club of Canberra, Andrew Satsias.
On the night, these guests were first treated to a Welcome to Country by Ngambri Custodian, Paul House, before a number of officials stood to give speeches, including the CEO of the National Museum, Dr Mathew Trinca; the Director of the British Museum, Dr Hartwig Fischer; Minister Cheyne; Australian journalist, Mary Kostakidis; Senator Seselja and Bishop Bartholomew.
People who gave speeches on the night.Bishop Bartholomew and Father Petros blessed the exhibition on the night.
Ms Kostakidis spoke proudly of her Greek heritage during her speech, praised the National Museum for holding the Ancient Greeks exhibition and spoke briefly about the Parthenon Marbles dispute between Greece and the British Museum.
The Bishop, along with the parish priest of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Canberra, Father Petros Kipouros, also did a small blessing ceremony for the exhibition.
Canberra Hellenic Dancers.
Kefi Band.
Following this, attendees were invited to view the exhibition and its 170 artefacts from the British Museum’s collection of Greek treasures dating from 800 BCE to 200 CE. Whilst this was happening, the Canberra Hellenic Dancers gave an amazing Greek dancing performance to music by Kefi band.
Later, people moved into a never-before used gallery in the National Museum for a formal sit-down dinner catered by Broadbean Catering, which is owned by Savvas Dimarhos. Attendees were served incredible food including a mouth-watering baklava ice cream.
All in all, it was a fantastic evening enjoyed by everyone in attendance.
Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes is at the National Museum of Canberra from 17 December 2021 to 1 May 2022. Tickets $28. For bookings see: https://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/ancient-greeks.
* All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
From the minute people walk into the Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, their eyes are instantly drawn to the spectacular statue of Nike, the Greek ‘Goddess of Victory.’
The statue is one of the centrepieces of the exhibition, along with 169 other objects from the British Museum’s collection of Greek treasures dating from 800 BCE to 200 CE.
The Greek Herald got an exclusive preview of this exhibition during today’s media launch and can confirm that the wide-range of black-figured amphoras and marble reliefs depicting scenes and people from Ancient Greece definitely didn’t disappoint.
All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC), John Loukadellis (left), speaking with ACT Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tara Cheyne (right).
‘No items of contention’:
The artefacts invoke a sense of pride in the Greek culture and heritage and this was a point the President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC), John Loukadellis, touched on in his speech during the launch.
“I find it very fitting, very respectful that as we walk into this amazing theatre here today that the first piece that greets us is the Goddess Nike or the Goddess of Victory,” Mr Loukadellis said.
“The way I see it, this exhibition, with great thanks to the British Museum and our friends here at the National Museum, is a great Nike [victory] for everyone around Australia who love their culture, who love the ancient civilisation stories and who also is a friend of history.”
Mr Loukadellis also said the exhibition holds ‘no items of contention’ from the British Museum and encouraged everyone to visit.
Exhibition not possible without Greek community support:
During the media launch, a number of other prominent members of the Canberra community also gave speeches including the CEO of the National Museum, Dr Mathew Trinca and the ACT Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tara Cheyne.
Dr Trinca stressed how delighted he is to finally be able to bring the Ancient Greeks exhibition to Canberra following a 12-month delay due to COVID-19. He also thanked the Greek community for their support.
Dr Mathew Trinca.
ACT Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tara Cheyne.
“Had it not been for the Greek Australian community here in Canberra, that has come so strongly to come and support this presentation, I’m not sure we would have received it,” the National Museum CEO said.
“But I can’t wait to see people come into this exhibition and really enjoy what it tells us about the common imagination we have about the Greek world and how it informs our present but also, in a sense, just a simple opportunity to come together.”
Minister Cheyne reflected Dr Trinca’s comments and said it’s a privilege to finally be able to view the British Museum collection.
“It is a celebration of Greek culture and history seen through that prism of competition which informed all the aspects of the ancient Greek world, including childhood, society and sport,” Minister Cheyne said.
In his message, Dr Fischer praised the “formidable working relationship” between the National Museum of Australia and the British Museum as they collaborated closely to ensure the exhibition went ahead. He also spoke briefly about the exhibition.
“Ancient Greek artefacts form a vital part of the British Museum’s collection and this exhibition brings together some of the most fascinating objects…” Dr Fischer said.
“So we look forward to hearing our local audience respond to these objects and sculptures.”
For her part, Dr Withycombe went into detail about what is on offer during the exhibition, making special reference to the two objects the National Museum was able to select specifically for Ancient Greeks.
These are: (1) a black-figured amphora showing the Greek warrior Achilles slaying the Amazon Queen Penthesileia (about 540–530 BCE), signed by Exekias, the renowned Athenian potter and painter; (2) and a marble relief known as the Apotheosis of Homer (about 220–200 BCE) signed by its maker, Archelaos of Priene.
“We just hope that people are able to come and see the exhibition, people from the Greek community but also the wider Australian public. We just think that in a time when you can’t travel and you can’t have holidays, this really will be this immersive holiday experience,” Dr Withycombe concluded.
Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes is at the National Museum of Canberra from 17 December 2021 to 1 May 2022. Tickets $28. For bookings see: https://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/ancient-greeks.
* All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
A bid by the managers of St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner to avoid giving evidence has forced a delay of the inquest into the deaths of 50 residents.
According to ABC News, former St Basil’s chairman Kon Kontis and facility manager Vicky Kos are fighting against giving evidence over their handling of the deadly outbreak in July 2020 out of fear they could incriminate themselves.
“On legal advice, I object to giving evidence on the ground that it may tend to incriminate me in relation to an offence under Australian law,” Mr Kontis said.
A new Multicultural Community Wellbeing Campaign urges all young people, their families and friends in NSW to “stay connected” and, if needed, seek mental health support from the new Australian Government funded mental health service, Head to Health.
NSW Multicultural Health Communications Service (MHCS) and NSW Primary Health Networks (PHNs) collaborated with Settlement Services International (SSI) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) to put the campaign together.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman MP, said all Australians should feel supported and able to access mental health services when and where they need them. This includes making services and resources available in their own language.
“It can be hard to reach out and ask for help, and even harder to name what you need when there is a language or a cultural barrier, or you don’t feel safe,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
“That’s why this campaign is so important. It uses the experiences of young Australians from multicultural backgrounds to encourage others to reach out for support. There is plenty of support available, we just have to make sure those that need it, know about it and feel safe to reach out.”
NSW Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the initiative will spark important conversations among our young people.
“The past two years has been incredibly tough on everyone especially for our young people so it is wonderful to launch a campaign that will strengthen mental health strategies and supports across the board.”
NSW Health Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright said while our collective mental health has deteriorated during the pandemic – there is still cause for hope.
“The pandemic has caused a lot of stress and hardship, but it has also brought forward many meaningful and positive conversations about mental health and wellbeing.
“As we continue to adapt our lives to living with the virus, make mental health an ongoing topic of conversation. Talk about it around the family dinner table, at community gatherings and with your friends. Importantly, if anyone you know is struggling with stress, depression or anxiety, reassure them that these are all treatable – especially if you get help early on.”
A partnership with SBS to produce a suite of videos in English and Mandarin on ways to “Stay Connected”.
Radio advertising on SBS language programs and community radio in Arabic, Assyrian, Bangla, Cantonese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali or Vietnamese – complemented by interviews with health professionals about mental health on community radio, in community languages.
A partnership with SSI and youth mental health advocates with lived experience to produce meaningful campaign resources in a range of languages.
The ANU COVID-19 Impact Monitoring Survey showed that anxiety and worry levels were highest during lockdowns amongst young people 18 to 24 years, Indigenous Australians and those who speak a language other than English.
Unfortunately, ongoing social isolation prompted by loss of employment, restrictions on recreation and reduced social connection continue to be a problem even as COVID-19 restrictions are lifting, and mental health conditions like anxiety continue to be a major concern post-lockdown.
MHCS Director Lisa Woodland said that it is vital for young people and their families to know that there are in-language mental health support services available for them.
“Our aim is to promote key messages to the community through trusted media channels to help increase meaningful conversations between young people, their peers and family members around mental health.”
This initiative urges anyone with mental health concerns who may not be able to access psychological support, to reach out to a new free mental health service, Head to Health, by calling 1800 595 212. Eleven Head to Health services are now open and taking calls across NSW and ACT and work closely with existing providers including GPs and hospitals, referring people to more intensive mental health care or social supports if needed.
The campaign is an example of collaboration between organisations funded by the Australian and NSW governments to address community mental health concerns.
“The collaboration between NSW PHNs and NSW MHCS is an example of our shared commitment to working across federal and state programs to address health challenges together,” said Dr Michael Moore, CEO of Central and Eastern Sydney PHN on behalf of NSW PHNs.
NSW PHNs involved in this initiative are Central and Eastern Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Northern Sydney, South Eastern NSW, South Western Sydney and Western Sydney PHNs.
A compelling exhibition exploring the theme of competition in the Ancient Greek world and featuring stunning objects from the British Museum’s collection, opens at the National Museum of Australia on Friday, 17 December.
Following a 12-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes opens at the National Museum in Canberra as the nation emerges from lockdown.
With Canberra as its only east coast venue, the Ancient Greeks exhibition features more than 170 objects from the British Museum’s collection of Greek treasures, with artefacts dating from 800 BCE to 200 CE.
National Museum director, Dr Mathew Trinca, said: “We are delighted to finally be able to bring this spectacular exhibition to Canberra.
We’re just about ready! 🙌 🏺 The blockbuster exhibition from the British Museum, ‘Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes’ opens this Friday, 17 December.
“Australians have endured months of lockdown and uncertainty, and we are thrilled to give them such a magnificent international exhibition experience after what has been one of the most difficult periods in our nation’s history,” Dr Trinca said.
“The legacy of Ancient Greece endures in our society today, and visitors will be mesmerised by the stories of competition in the Ancient Greek world and by the beautiful depictions of athletes, the ceramics, sculptures, armour and jewellery on show,” Dr Trinca said.
Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes is the fourth in a series of British Museum exhibitions that have featured at the National Museum of Australia, following Rome: City and Empire (2018), A History of the World in 100 Objects (2016) and Encounters: Revealing Stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Objects from the British Museum (2015).
Dr Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum said: “We at the British Museum are delighted that Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes will open imminently at the National Museum of Australia.”
In Greek mythology, Helios the sun god emerged from the sea. See this object in the @nma's 'Ancient Greeks' exhibition, opening 17 December. Tickets are on sale now! https://t.co/wY1WSkV5P2pic.twitter.com/0JKpNg8Ssq
“This wonderful exhibition is the result of tireless efforts and contributions made by staff at the National Museum of Australia, the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip, the Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the British Museum. The exhibition has been many years in the making and the British Museum is extraordinarily proud of this partnership. We hope that audiences in Canberra will enjoy and be inspired by the magnificent objects and stories woven throughout the Ancient Greeks exhibition,” Dr Fischer said.
Dr Peter Higgs, British Museum acting keeper Greek collections, said: “I am so pleased that the exhibition Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes is going to our partner museum in Canberra. Despite the worldwide pandemic and the immense challenges it has created, we have all worked together to achieve this momentous task.”
“Following the pandemic, we seized the opportunity to develop collaborative new approaches to our international installation practices, all the while adhering to our tightest processes. A huge thank you to everyone who has been involved with this exhibition. We hope you are able to go and see The Greeks and immerse yourselves in the stimulating narratives and stunning ancient artefacts,” Dr Higgs said.
Tara Cheyne, ACT Assistant Minister for Economic Development, said: “As part of the ACT Government’s ongoing commitment to the tourism, events, arts and cultural sectors, we are very pleased to be supporting the National Museum of Australia in staging this exhibition. The welcome return of blockbuster exhibitions will play an important role in the social and economic recovery of the Canberra region – and provides yet another great reason for our interstate visitors to organise a trip to the nation’s capital.”
It's almost time for the official opening of the ‘Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes’ exhibition at the National Museum of Australia 🏺
Ancient Greeks is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between the Western Australian Museum, the National Museum of Australia, and the Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum, which combined forces to bring the exhibition to Australasia for the first time.
Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes was on display at the Western Australian Museum from 20 June to 7 November 2021, and will be on show at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum in New Zealand from 10 June to 16 October 2022.
Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes is at the National Museum of Canberra from 17 December 2021 to 1 May 2022. Tickets $28. For bookings see: https://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/ancient-greeks.
Background:
The exhibition is divided into six sections: Nike, Goddess of Victory; Sporting Competitions; The Performing Arts; War; Heroes and Myths; Society: Competition in Life and Death.
The National Museum requested two additional objects for the exhibition. Both are exquisite examples of their type and remarkable because they feature the artists’ signatures:
• Black-figured amphora showing the Greek warrior Achilles slaying the Amazon Queen Penthesileia (about 540–530 BCE), signed by Exekias, the renowned Athenian potter and painter
• Marble relief known as the Apotheosis of Homer (about 220–200 BCE) signed by its maker, Archelaos of Priene
Key objects include rare and striking items from the British Museum’s Greek collection:
• A rare, black-figured amphora showing athletes training for the pentathlon (540–520 BCE)
• A black-figured amphora presented as a prize at the Panathenaic Games in Athens, it was once filled with 45 litres of olive oil. A rare example of its type as its lid has survived intact (333–332 BCE)
• A terracotta sculpture of two young women playing a game of knucklebones. One version of the game was the Aphrodite throw, thought to predict the odds of getting married (330–300 BCE)
• A gilded silver pin showing the figure of Nike, goddess of victory, holding a wreath (never previously toured) (100–200 CE)
• Gold earrings depicting Nike holding discs featuring the head of the sun god Helios (never previously toured) (about 350–250 BCE)
• A Roman version of one of the most famous Greek athletic statues – the Diadoumenos – based on a Greek original by the sculptor Polykleitos in the 5th century BCE. A victor statue and a powerful study of the ideal male physique (about 120–140 CE)
• Bronze head from the statue of an athlete, rare survival of bronze sculpture (never previously toured) (400–350 BCE)
• Marble portrait bust of the famous playwright Euripides, known for writing tragedy (Roman version 69–96 CE, after a Greek original about 330–300 BCE)
• An intricately detailed, red-figured volute krater features scenes from the ancient story that inspired Euripides’ last tragic play, Iphigeneia in Aulis (360–350 BCE)
• A fragment of a sarcophagus depicting warriors, from Klazomenai (modern Urla), Turkey (about 525–515 BCE)
• A bronze cuirass (body armour) modelled with tense, powerful, musculature (about 350–300 BCE)
• A tiny chalcedony gem engraved with the figure of winged Nike – one of the finest examples of a Greek intaglio (engraved gemstone) (never toured internationally) (about 350–300 BCE)
• A large marble statue of an athlete, hero or god, which is representative of the ideal athletic physique (Roman version 1st century CE, after a Greek original 320–300 BCE)
• A finely modelled bronze statuette of Herakles, legendary hero and founder of the Olympic Games (about 400–350 BCE)
• A statue of a wealthy Greek woman carved from fine Parian marble (about 150–100 BCE)
• An array of exquisite jewellery, including a gold necklace featuring myrtle buds and a lion-head pendant (about 450–400 BCE)
• A block from a marble frieze depicting Greeks fighting Amazons. Part of the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (about 350 BCE)
• A marble charioteer, a fragment of a frieze from the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos (never been shown internationally) (about 350 BCE)
A Northern Territory Supreme Court judge has rejected a bid to hold an expedited hearing challenging the territory’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
Three unvaccinated men last week filed a legal case against the Chief Health Officer’s (CHO) direction that forbids workers from attending their workplaces after December 25 if they have not received both doses of an approved vaccine.
They had asked the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing on December 23, but Justice Sonia Brownhill today said the expedited timetable was too tight.
According to ABC News, Justice Brownhill refused the application and instead listed the matter for a directions hearing next Wednesday, when a trial date is expected to be set.
Outside court, Mario Tsirbas, the President of United NT Businesses, which is funding the legal challenge, said the result was “very disappointing.”
“We’ve got thousands of workers with a real prospect of having a Christmas of a lot of heartache,” Mario Tsirbas said, while added that the group would continue its legal fight.
“Justice is justice, regardless of the timeframe. So, yeah, we will be pushing ahead with the case,” he said.
Turkey must realise that it cannot be threatening either Greece or Cyprus, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told German newspaper Handelsblatt on Wednesday.
“We are not the ones who nurture fantasies about empires of bygone times,” noted Mitsotakis.
He said he does not seek confrontation with Turkey and that he is “on speaking terms with President Erdogan.”
Η συμπεριφορά της Τουρκίας στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο αφορά την Ευρώπη στο σύνολό της. Το γεγονός ότι μπλοκάρει σχέδια για τη μεταφορά φυσικού αερίου από την Κύπρο, το Ισραήλ και την Αίγυπτο, επηρεάζει την ενεργειακή ασφάλεια ολόκληρης της Ευρώπης. https://t.co/4Yh8TlDiv5pic.twitter.com/Zb5YLFwcVp
Greece has every interest in cooperating with Turkey, he added, and is unhappy with Turkey’s current economic crisis as “it could lead to regional instability.”
Mitsotakis also observed that Greece does want Germany’s support regarding its relations with Turkey, as both countries are part of the European family.
He added that Germany “is not a non-involved, neutral, third party” when it comes to Greek-Turkish relations.
Greece, Italy and a handful of other European Union nations began vaccinating children ages 5-11 against COVID-19 on Wednesday as EU governments braced for the omicron variant to spread quickly during the travel and large gatherings of the holiday season.
Youngsters getting their first shot in Greece were given stickers and the day off from school.
Greece administered its first shots to younger children hours after authorities announced the country’s highest daily death toll of the pandemic: 130 people. Among the first to respond was Greek Education Minister Niki Kerameus.
A staff member from the National Health Organisation (EODY) prepares a booster Johnson and Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 at Karatepe refugee camp, on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Panagiotis Balaskas.
“I won’t hide the fact that on a personal level, after having talked with doctors and receiving scientific data, our family decided to vaccinate our son, who is 5 1/2 years old,” Kerameus said before taking her son, Loukas, to get his shot at an Athens hospital.
EU regulators last month approved a reduced-dose vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech for use in the 5-11 age group.
Mandatory PCR tests:
This vaccination drive comes as Greece’s Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that all travellers to Greece will have to show a mandatory negative PCR test for COVID-19 starting on Sunday.
All travellers to Greece will have to show a mandatory negative PCR test for COVID-19 starting on Sunday.
The measure affects all travellers, whether they are vaccinated against COVID-19 or not, irrespective of the country of departure. The only exception is for travellers who have spent less than 48 hours in a country prior to arriving in Greece.
The PCR test must have been carried out 48 hours before. The measure goes into effect at 6am on Sunday, December 19, 2021.
In a press release, the Greek Health Ministry said that the measure is in the context of the effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
